Cold Spell: Change the Drums

The spell will be short, though the post is long. I was thinking this morning about war. In a lot of traditions, there is a Great War between ___ and ___, with the Biggest War coming up. A lot of our folk music (old and new) involves the thrilling drumbeats of war. I like those songs, too, because drums are very cool, very moving. Like hearts we can control.

This was me on New Year's Eve going from 2001 to 2002. We were happy to see that year go.

I entered/continued a very angry period of my life then - partly in reaction to the drumbeats of war (which I am against), and partly as a result of those drumbeats playing to the already-war within myself.

We live today in a world of war. Everyday, somewhere, it continues. Sometimes, yes, the only thing we can do is fight. Sometimes we must. Too often, though, these wars are not only not of our choosing, but ultimately against ourselves. The Halliburtons and other current kings push the guns into our hands, or sit us at distant consoles with vague targets and tell us which buttons to press to watch the color drain from red-alive-to blue-dead on the screen. Drums should be heartbeats that keep on going. Take up your drum for this next one - ba bahm ba bahm ba bahm...

Let me win the war within

before bringing battle to the world around

Let me fight foes of fearsome greed in my heart and head

before attaching ammunition to the words I wield

Let me whisper with compassion, kindness,

drawing them near to hear without fear

Let us hold weaponless hands.